Stripe-adjusting apparatus for spraying machine

ABSTRACT

An aerosol spraying machine is provided with an apparatus for adjusting the width of the stripe sprayed by the machine. The spraying machine includes an aerosol can having a rotatable nozzle with an elongated spraying orifice and an actuating member for moving the nozzle to spray the contents of the can. The stripe-adjusting apparatus includes a plate rotatably mounted on the actuating member, and the nozzle extends through an opening in the plate and is engageable by the periphery of the opening so that rotation of the plate rotates the nozzle.

United States Patent [191 Smrt [ Dec. 9, 1975 1 STRIPE-ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING MACHINE [76] Inventor: Thomas J. Smrt, 31W 300 W.

Bartlett Road, Bartlett, 111. 60103 22 Filed: Feb. 14, 1975 21 Appl. No.: 549,812

[52] U.S. Cl. 222/176; 239/601; 118/305;

222/575 [51] Int. Cl. A01C 15/00 [58] Field of Search 222/173, 176l78,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 2,278,948 4/1942 ROdll et a1. 222/177 2,377,780 6/1945 Hann 118/305 Maus 118/305 Smrt 222/176 Primary ExaminerRobert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner1-1. Grant Skaggs, Jr.

[57] ABSTRACT An aerosol spraying machine is provided with an apparatus for adjusting the width of the stripe sprayed by the machine. The spraying machine includes an aerosol can having a rotatable nozzle with an elongated spraying orifice and an actuating member for moving the nozzle to spray the contents of the can. The stripeadjusting apparatus includes a. plate rotatably mounted on the actuating member, and the nozzle extends through an opening in the plate and is engageable by the periphery of the opening so that rotation of the plate rotates the nozzle.

8 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,924,784

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,924,784

MOTION STRIPE-ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR SPRAYING MACHINE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY This invention relates to aerosol spraying machines and is particularly useful with the type of machines illustrated in my prior US. Pat. Nos. 3,700,144 and 3,796,353. Each of these patents describes a spraying apparatus in which a slidable actuating member is engageable with the actuator or nozzle of an aerosol can to open the can valve and to spray the contents of the can. These machines are advantageously used with a spraying nozzle which has a generally rectangular outer periphery and an elongated spraying orifice.

The present invention provides an apparatus for adjustingthe width of a stripe sprayed by such a machine. A flat plate is rotatably secured to the actuating member of the sprayingmachine and is provided with an opening corresponding to the outer periphery of the nozzle. As the plate is rotated, the nozzle and its elongated slot are also rotated, and the effective width of the orifice, i.e., the dimension extending perpendicular to the direction in which the machine is moving, is varied. If the nozzle has a rectangular orifice which extends perpendicularly to the direction of movement, rotation of the plate and nozzle first increases the width of the stripe and then progressively decreases the width of the stripe until the nozzle is rotated 90.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be explained in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment shown in the accompanying drawing, in which;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a machine equipped witha stripe-adjusting apparatus formed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1';

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of stripe-adj usting apparatuses;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a rectangular nozzle illustrated in phantom in FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the nozzle extends perpendicular to the direction in which the spraying machine moves; and

FIGS. 7-12 are plan views of the nozzle rotated 10, 45, 60, 70, 80, and 90, respectively, from the position of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 10 designates a spraying apparatus identical to the spraying apparatus 10 described in US. Pat. No. 3,796,353. As described in that patent, such a spraying machine includes a wheel-equipped frame 11, a front wall 12 and a wall 13 which extends parallel to the front wall, and a pair of can-confining walls 14 and 15 which extend between the walls 12 and 13. The walls 12-15 provide a rectangular chamber 16 for holding a conventional aerosol spray can 17 illustrated in phantom in FIG. 2. A bottom wall 18 extends rearwardly from the wall 13.

The aerosol can includes a valve-actuating stem 19 which is generally aligned with the axis of the can, and an elongated valve nozzle or actuator 20 is rotatably mounted on the stem. The valve of the aerosol can is of the type that is opened when the: stem is tilted or moved laterally or perpendicularly with respect to the axis of the can.

As described in detail in the aforementioned patent, the nozzle and valve stem are moved laterally by a slide plate 22 which is slidably mounted on the frame below the bottom wall 18. The slide plate includes an elongated sliding or attaching portion 23 (FIG. 1) and a generally rectangular actuating portion 24 which extends parallel to the slide portion but which is offset downwardly therefrom by a connecting portion 25 (FIG. 2). The actuating portion is provided with a rectangular opening 26, and the front end of the slide plate terminates in a downwardly extending flange 27.

A generally rectangular plate 29 is rotatably attached to the top of the actuating portion 24 of the slide plate by a pair of rivets or pins 30 which extend through arcuate slots 31 in plate 29. Each of the slots extends through an arc of and the plate 29 is rotatable 90 counterclockwise from the position illustrated in FIG. 1. The plate is provided with a rectangular opening 32 which has a periphery corresponding to the outer periphery of the nozzle.

The plate 29 is rotatable by a crank 33 and a link 34. The crank includes a handle portion 35, an elongated central portion 36, and a crank arm 37 which terminates in a downwardly extending end 38 which extends through one end of the line 34. A cotter pin 39 retains the end portion 38 within the link.

The crank is rotatably supported in a position in which the central portion 36 extends parallel to the axis of the aerosol can by upper and lower brackets 40 and 41 which are secured to the wall 15. A bushing 42 is mounted on the upper bracket and engages the handle portion 35 to maintain the crank in the proper position.

The upper bracket is provided with four openings 43 which are designated by the numbers 1 through 4, and the handle portion 35 terminates in a downwardly extending locking portion 44 which can be inserted into the desired opening.

The link 34 is rotatably secured to the plate 29 by a pin 45, and movement of the link to the left in FIG. 1 will rotate the plate counterclockwise.

When the aerosol can is positioned in the spraying machine, the nozzle 20 extends through the opening 32 in the plate 29 and into the opening 26 of the slide plate. Since the periphery of the opening 32 corresponds to the outer periphery of the nozzle, the nozzle is non-rotatably engaged by the plate 29 and will rotate on the valve stem 19 as the plate rotates. The position of the slide plate 22 and the plate 29 should be adjusted before the can is inserted so that the rotational center of the plate 29 corresponds to the axis of the can.

When the crank and plate 29 are in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the long dimension of the nozzle extends perpendicularly to the direction in which the spraying machine is advanced, indicated by the arrow A. The contents of the aerosol can are sprayed by moving the slide plate 22 rearwardly as described in US. Pat. No. 3,796,353. The plate 29 is moved rearwardly with the slide plate 22, and the nozzle and the valve stem 19 move with the plate 29 to open the valve. The nozzle illustrated in phantom in FIG. 1 and in solid outline in FIGS. 6-12 has an elongated rectangular spraying orifice 47, and the spraying orifice will lay down a broad stripe of sprayed material as the machine advances.

The width of the stripe can be varied by adjusting the crank 33. The lower end portion of the crank extends below the link 34 a sufficient distance to permit the crank to be raised until the locking portion 44 is withdrawn from the opening in the upper bracket. The handle portion 35 can then be swung to bring the locking portion into alignment with one of the openings 43, which are arranged along an arc, and the crank is then lowered to lock it in the desired position. Rotation of the crank moves the link 34 and thereby rotates the stripe-adjusting plate 29 on the slide plate 22 which in turn rotates the nozzle on the valve stem 19. When the locking portion of the crank is in one of the openings designated 2, 3, or 4, the long dimension of the spraying orifice extends at an acute angle to the direction in which the machine advances, and the width of the stripe will progressively decrease as the crank moves from position 1 to position 4.

In the structure described in US. Pat. No. 3,796,353 the nozzle was always rotated by the slide plate to a position in which the long dimension of the nozzle extended perpendicular to the direction in which the machine advanced. However, in accordance with this invention, the stripe-adjusting plate holds the nozzle in the desired angular position as the stripe-adjusting plate is moved rearwardly to open the valve.

The apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 can adjust the stripe to four widths, represented by positions 1 to 4. However, greater variability can be obtained if desired.

FIGS. 6l 2 illustrate a nozzle 20 in seven different positions. In FIG. 6 the long dimension x of the orifice 47 extends perpendicular to the direction in which the machine advances, and the width W of the sprayed stripe is equal to the dimension x. In FIGS. 7-12 the nozzle is rotated 10, 45, 60, 70, 80, and 90 from the position of FIG. 6. The width W of the stripe in each position can be calculated by the equation:

where is the angle of rotation from the position of FIG. 6. Since the orifice has a width y, the width of the stripe will first increase slightly as the nozzle is rotated from the FIG. 6 position and will thereafter decrease until the stripe width equals the width y of the orifice as in FIG. 12. The angle of rotation for maximum stripe width can be easily calculated for each size orifice.

A modified stripe-adjusting apparatus is illustrated in FIGS. 3-5. A stripe-adjusting plate 50 is rotatably mounted on the slide plate 22 by a bolt 51 which extends through the arcuate slot 52 in the plate 50. The plate 50 is provided with a rectangular opening 53 similar to the opening 32 previously described, and the nozzle 20 (FIG. 4) extends through the'opening 53 and the opening in the slide plate. The position of the plate 50 is adjusted by a handle portion 54 which extends outwardly from the main portion of the plate. The center of the arc along which the slot 52 extends corresponds to the center of the rectangular opening 53 and the axis of the can, and the plate 50 can be rotated about the axis of the can by moving the handle 54. The bottom of the slide plate 22 (FIG. is provided with marks numbered from 1 to 4 to indicate the position of the opening 53 of the stripe-adjustin g plate 50. When the handle is aligned with the reference mark designated by the numeral 4, the nozzle is positioned in a position in which the elongated orifice extends perpendicular to the direction in which the machine is advanced, and when the handle is aligned with the reference mark designated by the numeral 1, the orifice will extend substantially parallel to the direction in which the spraying machine is advanced. The plate 50 is locked in the desired position by a wing nut 55 which, in cooperation with the bolt 51, clamps the plates 50 and 22 together.

While in the foregoing specification detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention were set forth for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that many of the details hereingiven may be varied considerably by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an aerosol spraying machine equipped with an aerosol can containing material to be sprayed, the aerosol can including an actuating stem and a nozzle rotatably mounted on the actuating stem and having an elongated spraying orifice, the spraying machine including an actuating member slidably mounted on the spraying machine for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the actuating stem, a stripeadjusting apparatus for varying the width of a stripe of material sprayed by the aerosol can comprising a nozzle-engaging member mounted on the spraying machine for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel to the actuating stem, the nozzle-engaging member having means for engaging the nozzle for rotating the nozzle with the nozzle-engaging member as the nozzle-engaging member is rotated whereby the rectangular spraying orifice of the nozzle can be rotated about said axis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nozzle has a non-circular outer periphery and the nozzle-engaging member is provided with an opening receiving the nozzle.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nozzle has a generally rectangular outer periphery and the nozzleengaging member is provided with a generally rectangular opening corresponding to the outer periphery of the nozzle which non-rotatably receives the nozzle, the means for engaging the nozzle being provided by the periphery of the opening in the nozzle-engaging member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nozzleengaging member comprises a plate rotatably mounted on the spraying machine and provided with an opening through which the nozzle extends, the means for engaging the nozzle being provided by the periphery of the opening, and means mounted on the spraying machine for rotating the plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for rotating the plate includes a crank rotatably mounted on the spraying machine for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the rotational axis of the plate.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the plate is rotatably mounted on the actuating member.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the plate is provided with an arcuate slot, and attaching means extending through the slot for attaching the plate to the actuating member, the slot moving relative to the attaching means as the plate is rotated.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 including locking means for releasably locking the crank in a desired position. 

1. In an aerosol spraying machine equipped with an aerosol can containing material to be sprayed, the aerosol can including an actuating stem and a nozzle rotatably mounted on the actuating stem and having an elongated spraying orifice, the spraying machine including an actuating member slidably mounted on the spraying machine for movement in a direction generally perpendicular to the actuating stem, a stripe-adjusting apparatus for varying the width of a stripe of material sprayed by the aerosol can comprising a nozzle-engaging member mounted on the spraying machine for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel to the actuating stem, the nozzle-engaging member having means for engaging the nozzle for rotating the nozzle with the nozzle-engaging member as the nozzle-engaging member is rotated whereby the rectangular spraying orifice of the nozzle can be rotated about said axis.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nozzle has a non-circular outer periphery and the nozzle-engaging member is provided with an opening receiving the nozzle.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nozzle has a generally rectangular outer periphery and the nozzle-engaging member is provided with a generally rectangular opening corresponding to the outer periphery of the nozzle which non-rotatably receives the nozzle, the means for engaging the nozzle being provided by the periphery of the opening in the nozzle-engaging member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the nozzle-engaging member comprises a plate rotatably mounted on the spraying machine and provided with an opening through which the nozzle extends, the means for engaging the nozzle being provided by the periphery of the opening, and means mounted on the spraying machine for rotating the plate.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the means for rotating the plate includes a crank rotatably mounted on the spraying machine for rotation about an axis extending parallel to the rotational axis of the plate.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the plate is rotatably mounted on the actuating member.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the plate is provided with an arcuate slot, and attaching means extending through the slot for attaching the plate to the actuating member, the slot moving relative to the attaching means as the plate is rotated.
 8. The apparatus of claim 5 including locking means for releasably locking the crank in a desired position. 